Container closure having integral opening means



United States Patent Inventors Robert Herbcfl;

Richard C. Osting, Phoenixville. Pa. Appl. No. 739,265 Filed June 24,1968 Patented Dec. I5, 1970 Assignee The West Company Phoenlxville, Pa.I corporation of Pennsylvanla CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING INTEGRAL OPENINGMEANS 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,07l.274 l/l963 Ravn2l5/37 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Howson and HowsonABSTRACT: A tamper-proof container closure for use on containers such aspharmaceutical bottles or the like to hold a stopper in place in theopening of the bottle. The container closure comprises a cap and covermember. The cap is generally of cuplike form and includes a top and askirt depending from the outer peripheral edge of the top. The topincludes a portion connected to the cover member and adapted to bedetached to expose the stopper and permit it to be pierced, for exampleby a hypodermic syringe to remove the fluid contents of the container.In one form of the invention, partial scoring, that is, a continuousline-type scoring, is provided in the top to define a keyhole-shapeddetachable portion therein. The cover member is secured to thisdetachable keyhole-shaped portion whereby upon actuation of the coverrelative to the cap, the detachable portion breaks away from theremainder of the cap along the score line.

PATENTEU DEC! 5 I978 5 7.

SHEET 2 BF 3 PIC? /42 A56 A93 475 fi ii..- A J 5 mvcmons: ROBERT HERBERTy RICHARD C..OSTING ATTYSI PATENTEDDECI 5:970 3547-297 SHEET 3 BF 3 .2?FIG I 6.

INVENTORS; ROBERT HERBERT BY RICHARD (Log- ATT Y5.

CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING INTEGRAL OPENING MEANS This invention relatesto improvements in container closures and in particular to caps forpharmaceutical containers or bottles having a removable portion adaptedto be detached to permit piercing of the stopper by a syringe forremoving the contents of the container.

An example of a container closure of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,071,274, owned by the assignee ofthe present application. Asillustrated therein, these container closure assemblies usually includea pierceable closure member such as a disk or stopper formed of rubberor like material which disk in the open end of the bottle and a metalliccap to hold the stopper in place, the cap having a depending flangeengaging a shoulder on the neck of the bottle to hold the stopper inplace. These caps generally include a central removable disk portionconnected to the annular top portion of the cap usually by a pluralityof circumferentially spaced fracturable connecting bridges. The assemblyfurther includes a cover member overlying the top and connected to thecentral disk whereby upon pivotal movement of the cover member, thefracturable bridges are broken and the disk is removed to expose thestopper and afford access thereto which then may be pierced by ahypodermic syringe to remove the contents of the container or bottle.

While this container closure assembly is generally effective for thepurposes intended, there are some problems encountered in themanufacture and use thereof. For example, these container closures aredesigned to be removed by a one-hand operation wherein the container issupported in the hand and the thumb is used to pry the cover upwardly.In some instances, it has been found that it is difficult to massproduce the caps so that the fracturing point of the bridges issubstantially uniform. This is important for the reason that if thebridges offer too much resistance it is difficult for the user to removeit in a one-hand operation. On the other hand if the bridges fracturetoo readily, there is the danger of premature breakage duringmanufacturing and handling processes. Furthermore, if the fracturingstrength of the bridges is predictable and uniform the resistance toremoval of the cover may vary depending on where the peripheral edge ofthe cover is engaged by the user.

In accordance with the present invention, the central removable diskportion is connected to the annular top portion of the cap by means of apartial score line. the partial scoring defining in one embodiment a tabportion converging to a point along the skirt of the cap. The disk isprovided with an opening offset from the center thereof and aligned witha line through the center of the cap portion and the cover has a buttonengaging through the opening to secure the cover to the assembly.Further, the cover is provided with a recess ad jacent the edgeproviding a lift section for engaging the cover to remove the centraldisc disk portion. By this arrangement, the force required to remove thecover member and disk may be controlled more accurately and made moreuniform. Furthermore, this assembly is much more economical to make.

These and other objects and the various features and details of theconstruction and arrangement of a container closure in accordance withthe present invention are hereinafter more fully set forth withreference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a container closure in accordancewith the present invention in position on a bottle;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the cap with a portion of the coverelement broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with cover member and disk partiallyremoved;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap and cover member and diskdisassembled from the remainder ofthe cap;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cap prior to assembly of the covermember thereto;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a second embodiment ofcontainer closure in accordance with the present invention assembled toa container;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cap portion of the containerclosure;

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a third embodiment ofcontainer closure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cap;

FIG. II is also a perspective view showing the interior of the cap;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the container closure afterremoval from the container;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view ofa fourth embodiment of containerclosure applied to a conventional bottle;

FIG. I4 is a view similar to FIG. 13 as viewed from the opposite side ofthe container closure;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view with parts broken away to show more clearlythe construction of the container closure shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on line I6-I6 ofFlG. I5;

FIG. I7 is a view similar to FIG. I6 showing the container closurepartially removed; and

FIG. I8 is a perspective view of the cover member after disassembly fromthe remainder of the container closure.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to [-3 thereof, referencenumeral 10 designates generally a container such as a bottle ofconventional form, having a container closure in accordance with thepresent invention covering the opening in the bottle. This bottleincludes a reduced neck portion 12 having a peripherally extending rib14 adjacent the opening I6 in the bottle. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, astopper 18 which may be formed of rubber or like material en gages inthe opening 16, the stopper in the present instance has a depending plugportion 20 adapted to fit within the neck of the bottle, a peripheralflange 22 which seats against the lip of the bottle and a central thinwalled portion 24 which may be pierced for example by the needle of ahypodermic syringe to withdraw the contents of the container. Thestopper 18 may be of any conventional form and the present invention isnot concerned with the particular form thereof.

A cap 30 of generally cup like form which is preferably made of a sheetmaterial such as aluminum holds the stopper in place and also serves toseal the contents of the container. The cap 30 includes a dependingperipheral skirt 32 adapted to be spun inwardly or otherwise formedalong its lower terminal edge to provide an inwardly directed lockingflange 34 engaging under the rib 14 to secure the stopper in place.

In accordance with the present invention, the top 36 of the cap isprovided with a partial scoring broadly designated by the numeral 40which as best illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a circular portion 42separating the top into an outer annular portion 44 and a circular diskportion 46, the circular scoring 42 terminating in a pair ofspaced-apart parallel score lines 48 extending across the annularportion 44 and defining there between a tab portion 50. The score lines48 are parallel and disposed on opposite sides of a line through thecenter of the top and as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 converge to apoint in the sidewall of the cap to define a generally triangular tailextension 52 of the tab portion 50. An opening 60 is provided in thecentral disk portion 46 offset to one side of the center of the discdiametrically opposed from the tab portion 50 and as illustrated has anembossed or raised wall portion 62 defining a recess or pocket on theunderside of the top.

A cover member 70 is connected the top of the cap with is actuatablewith respect thereto to remove the central disk portion and tab portionfrom the remainder of the capv To this end the cover which is ofgenerally disklike form overlies the top of the cap and is secured tothe removable disc portion by a buttonlike projection 74 which engagesthrough the opening 60. This button has an out-turned locking flange 76engaging about the inner peripheral wall of the embossed wall 62surrounding the opening 60. As illustrated the cover member has aperipherally sidewall or flange 80 which overlies and snugly thecircumferential edge of the cap at the juncture of the top and skirt.The cover member has a cutout 82 in the side wall located at a point inline with the opening 60, center of the cap and tab portion 50. Thiscutout 82 is to facilitate actuation of the cover member to remove thecentral disk portion from the cap and expose the stopper so that it maybe pierced by a hypodermic syringe. By this construction. the usersimply inserts a prying instrument or the fingernail in the cutout andwhile supporting the container in the opposite hand. exerts a liftingforce on the cover which effects separation along the partial scorelines, and complete removal of the central disk and tab portion from theremainder of the cap.

The entire assembly is economical to make. For example, the cap may bemade of a flat disklike piece of aluminum and then by conventional meansis partially scored to form the score lines 42, 48 and 51 andsimultaneously or in a separate operation the opening 60 and embossedwall 62 formed. After the disk is shaped to the form of a cap with astraight-sided skirt, a cover member which may be made of plastic isassembled thereto. It is noted that the cover may be secured to the capin the manner shown by peening of the button 74 after assembly of thecover and cap as by applied pressure and heat.

It is noted that the term "partial scoring as used herein is acontinuous score line in the metallic member which may be made byconventional means. Further, the depth of penetration of the score lineis selectively chosen for a particular gauge metal to provide thedesired resistance to removal of the disk member.

There is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 another embodiment of container closurein accordance with the present invention. This container closure whichis generally designated by the numeral 100 is adapted to be assembledover the open end of a container such as a bottle 110 identical in formto the container of the previously described embodiment including areduced neck 112 and a circumferentially extending rib 114 surroundingthe opening. The cap holds a conventional stopper 118 in the opening 116in the neck of the bottle. As illustrated, the container closureincludes a cap 122 having a generally cylindrical skirt portion 124 anda top 126. in the present instance, however, the top is provided with acircular partial score 128 separating the top into an outer annularportion 130 and a central disk portion 132. Further the central diskportion has an opening 136 surrounded by an embossed or raised wallportion 138 disposed centrally of the cap. in this embodiment of theinvention the cover member 140 which may be made of a plastic materialhas a central depending projection 142 in the form disk a button havinga peripheral flange engaging in the pocket defined under the raised wall138 surrounding the opening 136. The cover member has an outerdownwardly depending sidewall snugly embracing the juncture of the skirtand top portions of the cap.

In accordance with this embodiment, the cover may be engaged at anypoint about its periphery and when it is actuated relative to the top.the partial score is fractured along the cir cular line 128 and theentire central disk portion is removed with the cover to expose thecenter or pierceable portion of the stopper 120. The cap may be made andthe cover assembled thereto in the manner described above in connectionwith the first embodiment.

There is illustrated in F108. 9l2 inclusive a third embodiment ofcontainer closure in accordance with the present in vention. This formwhich is generally designated by the numeral 200 is adapted to beapplied to a container to hold a stopper over the opening in a containersuch as the bottle 202. This bottle is of the same construction as inthe previous described embodiments and includes a reduced neck 204. aperipherally extending radially outwardly projecting rib 206 adjacentthe opening 208 in the upper end of the bottle.

The container closure 200 includes a cap 210 of generally cuplike formhaving a top 212 and a skirt 214 depending from the outer peripheraledge of the top which is adapted to be crimped or spun inwardly adjacentits lower end to engage under the rib 206 to hold the stopper 220 inplace over the open end of the container. As illustrated, the stopper220 is a flat disklike member made of a resilient material such asrubber. In the present instance the cap is designed to be completelyremoved from the container and to this end is pro vided with partialscoring in a configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Morespecifically, a partial score line 222 is provided in the top 212 ofgenerally keyhole configuration to divide the top into an outerhorseshoe-shaped annular portion 226 and a central removal portion 228.The parallel legs 228a and 228b of the partial scoring in the top extendover the side edge and in the sidewall converge inwardly as illustratedas at 2300 and 230k. Leg 230!) terminates at a point short of the lowerterminal edge of the skirt whereas the leg 230a has a lower extension232 spaced from the upper extension for a purpose to be described inmore detail hereafter. The area of the cap between the score lines 228a.2281; and 2300, 230b defines a tab portion 240. The cap is alsopartially scored diametrically opposed from the tab portion 240.consisting of a single score 244 extending across the top and down theskirt and a short leg portion 246 spaced from the line 244 and extendingto the lower edge of the skirt.

The central portion 228 is provided with an opening 250 at a pointoffset from the center of the cap toward the score line 244, the opening250 being surrounded by a raised wall portion 252.

The container closure further includes a cover member 260 of generallydisklike form and made of a resilient material such as plastic. Thecover member has a depending projection 262 engaging through the opening250 in the top of the cap which is of buttonlike form and has anoutwardly extending flange 264 engaging under the wall 252 and in thepocket formed by the raised wall portion. The cover member has anindenture or cutout 266 aligned with the projection 262 and center ofthe cover member to facilitate insertion of a fingernail or other pryinginstrument to actuate the cover member at this point relative to thecap. When an upward force is applied in the area of the cutout 266, thecap is fractured along the keyhole score line 222 to remove the centerportion 228. With this portion of the cap raised, the user continues topull the cover member radially outwardly and downwardly along the skirtto fracture the cap along the lines 228a, 228b and 230a, 230b. Becauseof configuration of the score lines 230a and 230b, the skirt willseparate completely along the score lines 230a, 232. to permit theremainder of the cap to be pivoted about the score lines 244 and 246,the area between these lines serving as a hinge as at 270 whereby theremainder of the cap may be divided in halves and completely removedfrom the container (See Fig. 12).

The cap and its scoring configuration may be formed from a flat circulardisklike piece of aluminum or the like and then made into a cuplike formby conventional means. Thereafter, the cover member may be assembled tothe cap in the manner described in connection with the previousembodiments.

There is shown in FIGS. 13-18 inclusive a fourth embodiment of containerclosure in accordance with the present in vention. The container closureis generally designated by the numeral 300 and as in the previouslydescribed embodiments. is adapted to be assembled over the open end of acontainer such as the bottle 310, the bottle including a reduced neck312 and a circumferentially extending rib 314 surrounding the opening inthe container. The container closure supports a conventional stopper 318in the opening 316 in the neck of the container, the stopper having inthe present instance a central depending portion which has a centersection of thinner cross section so that it may be pierced by ahypodermic syringe.

The container closure includes a cap 301 of generally cuplike form whichis preferably made of a sheet material such as aluminum and which servesto hold the stopper in place thereby sealing the contents of thecontainer. The cap 301 includes 21 depending peripheral skirt 320adapted to be spun inwardly or otherwise formed along its lower terminaledge to provide an inwardly directed locking flange 334 engaging underthe rib 314 of the container.

The top 336 of the cap is provided with a continuous partial score linebroadly designated by the numeral 340, which as best illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15 is of keyhole configuration in the top and converges toa pointed tail portion 341 in the sidewall of the skirt. It is notedthat the continuous score line is referred to herein as partial scoring"and is of a sufficient depth in relation to the thickness of the sheetmaterial to permit separation of the cap along the score line by apredetermined force as explained in more detail hereafter. Depth of thepartial scoring can be controlled for any gauge metal thereby providingan assembly wherein the force to remove the disk portion of the cap maybe accurately controlled. More specifically, the scoring 340 separatesthe cap into an outer annular horseshoe shaped portion 344, a centraldisk portion 346 and a tab portion 347 between parallel radial scorelines 348 extending across the annular portion. The extension of scorelines 348 as illustrated in FIG. 14 converge to a point in the skirt ofthe cap to define a generally triangular tail extension 352 of the tabportion 347.

in the present instance the central disk portion 346 has an opening 360therein of square cross section which is offset to one side of thecenter of the disk diametrically opposed from the tab portion 347. Thedisk has an embossed or raised wall portion 362 surrounding the openingdefining a recess or pocket on the underside of the top.

A cover member 370 which may be made of plastic is connected to the topof the cap and is actuatable with respect thereto to remove the centraldisk portion and tab portion from the remainder of the cap. To this endthe cover 370, which is generally of disklike form overlies the top ofthe cap and is secured to the removable disk portion by a button likeprojection 374 gauging through the opening 360. The projection has asquare throat portion 375 conforming to the opening 360 and anout-turned locking flange 376 which nests in the pocket defined by theraised wall portion of the disk. By this construction the cover memberis retained against rotational movement relative to the cap for apurpose described hereinafter. The cover member has a peripherallyextending sidewall 380 which overlies and snugly embraces thecircumferential edge of the cap at the junction of the pocket and skirt.The cover member also has a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 381 and383, the lug 383 serving as a means for engagement by the finger of theuser to actuate the cover member relative to the cap to thereby removethe central disk portion. The lug 381 as illustrated in FIG. 14 extendsdown the skirt of the cap to a point slightly below the apex of thetriangular tail extension of the cap and serves as a lever point uponactuation of the cover as shown in H6. 17 to provide easy removal of thecover and disk portion when desired by the user.

When it is desired to expose the stopper for penetration by a hypodermicsyringe to remove the contents, the user simply supports the containerin one hand and now engages the lug 383 and presses it upwardly wherebythe cover member lifts the central disk portion and causes it to beseparated from the remainder of the cap along the score lines 340. Notein FIG. 17 that the lug 381 presses against the skirt of the cap belowthe apex of the triangular extension to insure complete separation andexertion of a minimum force to remove the disk portion.

The cap and cover assembly is economical to make and can be made in muchthe same manner as previously described embodiments. Thus, the cap maybe made of a flat, disklike piece of aluminum and then by conventionalmeans partially scored" to form the continuous score line 340 definingthe central disk portion 346, the tab portion 347 and the tail extension352. After the disk is shaped to the form of the cap, the cover memberis secured thereto simply by peening the button by applied pressure andheat. Further, it is noted that the depth of the continuous "partialscoring" can be controlled for any gauge metal thereby providing anassembly where the force for removing the disk portion may be controlledvery accurately and very uniformly for a plurality of containerclosures.

The container closure of the present invention provides a trulytamper-proof construction for the reason that once the cover member andportion of the case have been removed to expose the stopper, they cannotbe replaced or reassembled. Furthermore, removal of the cover memberdoes not produce any jagged edges on the cap which might present a riskof inju ry to the user. Additionally, the cover member closely embracesthe cap to provide a seal that excludes infiltration of dirt and foreignmatter, thus eliminating the danger of contaminating the contents of thecontainer.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changesand modifications may be made therein within the scope of the followingclaims.

We claim:

1. In a tamper-proof closure for closing an opening in a container orthe like, a cap which is adapted to be secured to the container over theopening and including a top. means defining a partial score line in saidcap providing an area of reduced cross section and defining a detachableportion adapted to be detached, a cover member overlying the top securedto said detachable cap portion and having an outer edge portionextending beyond the periphery of the top engageable by the user toactuate the cover member relative to the cap to effect separation alongsaid partial score line.

2. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim I wherein the partialscoring is in the form ofa circular score line in the top dividing thetop into an outer annular portion and a circular central disk portion,the circular score line terminating in a pair of spaced-apart scorelines extending across the annular portion and defining therebetween atab.

3. A tamper-proofclosure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the parallelscore lines converge to a point in the sidewall in the cap defining atriangular tail extension of the tab.

4. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim I wherein said covermember is generally disk-shaped and has an outer wall overlying thejuncture of the top and skirt of the cap.

5. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said covermember is made of plastic.

6. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim 1 including means definingan opening in the detachable portion of the cap and wherein said covermember has a depending projection engaging through said openingterminating in a flange un derlying the wall surrounding said opening.

7. A tampenproof closure as claimed in claim 6 wherein said opening isoffset relative to the center of the cap and wherein said cover memberis provided with a recess in one peripheral edge aligned with saidopening and the center of the cap.

8. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim I wherein said partialscoring is in the form of a complete circle to define a centralremovable disk portion.

9. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim 8 including an opening inthe center of said disk portion and wherein said cover member isprovided with a depending projection engaging through said openingterminating in a flange underlying the wall surrounding said opening.

10. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said scoring isof a configuration so that the top may be completely removed from thecontainer. c

11. A tamper-proof closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detachableportion includes a tail section in the skirt and wherein said covermember includes at least one lug overlying the tail section, the lowerextremity of said lug extending beyond said tail section to provide apivot upon actuation of said cover member relative to the cap.

12. In a tamper-proof closure adapted to hold a stopper in place in theopening ofa container or the like, a cap including a top and a skirtdepending from the outer peripheral edge of the top having means forsecuring the cap to the container, means defining a continuous partialscore line in said cap providing an area of reduced cross section anddefining a detachable portion adapted to be detached, :1 cover memberoverlying the top secured to said detachable portion and havin an outeredge portion extending beyond the periphery of the top engageable by theuser to actuate the cover member rdstive to the cap to effect separationof the cap along the partial score line.

13. In a tamper-proof closure for closing an opening in a container orthe like. a cap adapted to be secured to the container over the openingand including a top. means defining a partial score line in said capproviding an area of reduced cross section and defining a detachableportion adapted to be detached. a cover member overlying the top securedto said detachable portion. said cover member having an outer edgeortion extending beyond the periphery of the top and a pivot portionremote from the outer edge portion and extending to a.

point beyond the score line defining the detachable portion, said outeredge portion engageable by the user to actuate the cover member relativeto the cap to effect separation of the cap along the partial score line,said pivot portion serving as a fulcrum ofa lever upon actuation of thecover member.

[4. In a tamper-proof closure adapted to hold a stopper place in theopening ofa pharmaceutical bottle or the like. a cap including a top anda skirt depending, from the outer peripheral edge of the top. meansdefining a partial score line in said cap providing a detachable portionadapted to be.

detached. a cover member overlying the top and secured to saiddetachable portion of the cap. actuation of said cover member relativeto the cap adapted to effect depuration of the cap along said partialscore line. said means for securing the cover to the cap including meansdefining a noncircular open ing in the detachable portion of the cap anda depending orcjection on said cover engaging through said open ng ofacross section similar to said noncircular opening to prevent relativerotation of said cover and cap. said projection terminating in a flangeunderlying the wall surrounding said opening.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 .547.297 Dated ng h 5 920 Inventor(s) ROBERT HERBERT and RICHARD C, OSTINGIt is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 13; "disk" should read --engages-- Column 2, line 75; "aperipherally sidewall" should read --a peripherally extending sidewall--Column 3, line 1; "the circumferential edge" should read --embraces thecircumferential edge-- Claim 10, line 62; delete "c" Signed and sealedthis 8th day of June 1971.

(SEAL) lttest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. \ttesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents JOSO "0-69) Patent No. 3 a 547 297 December 15,1970 Dated Robert Herbert et a1.

Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the grant (only) after Column 6, insert columns 7 and overlying thetop secured to said detachable portion and having an outer edge portionextending beyond the periphery of the top engageable by the user toactuate the cover member rdative to the cap to effect separation of thecap along the partial score line.

l3. In a tamper-proof closure for closing an opening in a container orthe like. a cap adapted to be secured to the container over the openingand including a top. means defining a partial score line in said capproviding an area of reduced cross section and defining a detachableportion adapted to be detached, a cover member overlying the top securedto said detachable portion. said cover member having an outer edgeportion extending beyond the periphery of the top and a pivot portionremote from the outer edge portion and extending to a.

point beyond the score line defining the detachable portion. said outeredge portion engageable by the user to actuate the cover member relativeto the cap to effect separation of the cap along the partial score line.said pivot portion serving as a fulcrum ol'a lever upon actuation of thecover member.

14. in a tamper-proof closure adapted to hold a stopper place in theopening ola pharmaceutical bottle or the like. a cap including a top anda skirt depending from the outer peripheral edge of the top, meansdefining a partial score line in said cap providing a detachable portionadapted to be.

detached. :1 cover member overlying the top and secured to saiddetachable portion of the cap. actuation of said cover member relativeto the cap adapted to effect separation of the cap along said partialscore line. said means for securing the cover to the cap including meansdefining a noncircular opening in the detachable portion of the cap anda depending erojection on said cover engaging through said open ng ot'across section similar to said noncircular opening to prevent relativerotation of said cover and cap. said projection terminating in a flangeunderlying the wall surrounding said opening.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissionerof Patents

